Free agent Juan Soto is and will continue to be the darling of the 2024 Major League Baseball offseason. He is the prize that every owner wants on their team for the definite future.
With the increased drama from the Phillies over the last few seasons, it raises more and more questions about where their future is headed. The speculation starts to run deeper, and questions begin to multiply as to whether Phillies managing partner John Middleton can really turn the Phillies into a championship-winning team.
Trading Trea Turner's massive contract might not actually help the Phillies land Juan Soto
The Phillies seemingly admitted they plan to meet with Soto and his agent Scott Boras, although nothing has been confirmed. Financially, signing Soto to a presumably $600+ million deal would push the payroll to uncharted heights. Joe Giglio of SportRadio 94 WIP certainly thought of one idea.
"If I were the Phillies today, I would be on the phone with every team that has a big market payroll and I would say, 'You could have Trea Turner,'" Giglio said. "I would dump Trea Turner today just for a seat at the table with Juan Soto."
"If I were the Phillies today, I would be on the phone with every team that has a big market payroll and I would say, 'You could have Trea Turner.'
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) November 19, 2024
"I would dump Trea Turner today just for a seat at the table with Juan Soto." 😳
— @JoeGiglioSports
Agree or over the top? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Wejv0atHxN
Giglio has been known to fire from the hip from time to time but does speak to fans' frustration over Turner's tenure in Philadelphia. Since he signed an 11-year, $300 million contract two winters ago, he has been inconsistent. In the last two playoff runs, Turner has put up too much swing and miss at the top of a lineup that struggled to get things going offensively.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated that a possible reason that the Phillies were so late to the Soto party could be that they're trying to clear payroll. It could be true, as the Phillies have done a reasonable job with salary management up to this point and know there is always room to be made.
With that being said, Turner is possibly one of the reasons Soto would come to Philadelphia. He is still an explosive player with unbelievable speed and pop that can carry an offense for weeks. Turner has the Washington Nationals connection to Soto, along with first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Turner is still too vital to the Phillies that it could ultimately hurt their chances of signing Soto.
It will take a lot to sign Soto with competitors such as Hal Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees and Steve Cohen of the New York Mets. The Phillies need all the help they can get, and that includes the lure of Harper, Turner and Schwarber at the forefront.